Join us for a day of discussion, demonstrations, workshops and socializing. The site is a former sawmill reinvented as a woods business incubator.

The Wood Innovators Conference brings together a diversity of people with a mutual interest in creating new economic value from Maine woods those who produce wood, those who innovate with wood and those who build, use or heat with wood.

9:15 to 10:15 Tall wood buildings A revolution in construction technology is stirring excitement in Europe, Canada and the US. Can speed of construction and carbon benefits of cross-laminated timber overcome building and fire code obstacles? How can Maine position itself to supply the growing East Coast construction market?

10:30 To 11:30 Wood heat Heating oil is still the predominant fuel for heating buildings in Maine, even though the state is 90 percent forested. Will new automated delivery systems and a stable, locally-produced supply finally persuade people to switch to wood heat in large numbers?

12:45 to 1:45 pm OPTION ONE Exemplary forestry demonstration (in the woodlot) With climate change intensifying, lumber demand growing and more wildlife losing habitat, the expectations of forestry are higher than ever. Can the forests ecological health and productivity be improved at the same time?

12:45 to 1:45 OPTION TWO: Getting started in building tall-wood- buildings How do builders and architect analyze projects for suitability for cross-laminated timber? How to address client concerns and code issues?

Presenter: Anthony Thistleton, Waugh Thistleton Architects

1:45 to 2:45 p.m New products from wood fiber With loggers struggling because of downsizing in paper and biomass industries, where is the next generation of wood-based products going to come from? What are the best prospects for rooting biobased businesses in Maine?

3 to 4 p.m. Policy initiatives: The sudden contractions of the biomass and paper industries in Maine has heightened public awareness of the need to create new value from Maine woods. Several groups have been developing policy initiatives.

Post-conference Developing niche markets for Eastern White Pine molding (a tour of custom planer mill) The owners of Hiram Works are looking for an entrepreneurial individual to take over an idle custom planer mill.